Chapter 15
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It was early morning. I woke to an appetising aroma.
When I sat up, I didn’t see Tojo-san near me. I could hear noises from the kitchen, so she was probably there.
“Ah, good morning, Haruyuki-kun.”
“… Good morning.”
Tojo-san, who had already changed into the school uniform, was wearing an apron over it and holding a ladle.
She was apparently preparing breakfast for us.
“It will be ready in a few minutes, so please get ready for school and wait for me.”
“Aah. Okay.”
I changed into my school uniform in the room I was lent and went back to the living room with my school bag full of textbooks.
It was the first time I’ve ever felt this refreshed on a school-day morning.
The chronic tiredness that I had was gone, and I felt like I could move with enthusiasm towards anything.
“Haruyuki, are you fine with natto?”
“I don’t have any particular aversion to it.”
“I understand. Then I’ll add it, okay?”
Tojo-san brought me a tray with breakfast carefully laid out and placed it in front of me.
Miso soup, grilled salmon, freshly cooked white rice and the natto that she had just mentioned.
It was the ideal breakfast.
“You’re a great cook, Tojo-san.”
“Food is an important source of nutrients for your body. I’ve practised a lot.”
We clapped our hands together as we had done last night and began to eat.
The skin of the grilled salmon was crispy, and its moderate saltiness made the white rice tastier.
The miso soup was the same one as last night, but I felt like no matter how many times I drank it, I would never feel tired of it.
“It really is extravagant being able to have a breakfast like this in the morning…”
“I’m glad to hear you say that, but I didn’t do anything that special. Rather, what kind of breakfast did you have before?”
“I didn’t eat breakfast.”
“Eh?”
“I wanted to sleep more instead of using my time to make and eat breakfast, so I didn’t have any at all.”
I had been trying to spend as little money as possible on food, and breakfast was the only thing that I decided I could cut back on.
So it has been more than a year since I have had breakfast like this.
“… I’ll make it every day.”
“Eh?”
“I’ll make it. Everyday.”
She looked at me straight and earnestly, and I stiffened involuntarily.
But once I realised that she was thinking of me, I instantly felt warmth flood my heart.
“If Tojo-san makes it for me, I’ll eat it all. But if you’re going to do the impossible—”
“The impossible…? You underestimate me. I’m not sure how much elaborate cooking I’ll have to do, but if it’s for Haruyuki-kun, I don’t mind.”
—Isn’t that pushing it in a way?
Many parts of me thought that. But when I saw her expression, which really didn’t look like a heck of a lot, I was drained of my worries.
“I’m happy that you care about me like this. Haruyuki-kun, you may feel that only you are given something, but from my point of view, I have already received a lot of things, you know?”
◇◆◇
“—Well. We’d better leave soon.”
“Ah, is it that time already?”
I checked the time on my outdated smartphone, and it said 7:30. Our school started at 8:20.
If we head there now, we’ll arrive with plenty of time.
We cleaned up the last dishes left and grabbed our school bags.
In my bag was a lunch box that Tojo-san made for me, and considering the quality of yesterday’s lunch, I was really looking forward to lunchtime.
“Asahi is waiting for us downstairs, so let’s head down to the parking lot.”
“… I know this is late, but can I get a ride too?”
“Of course. I won’t just let you take the train to school by yourself.”
—Since it would be strange to refrain from doing this, I’ll be counting on you.
I walked down to the parking lot and found Hino-san waiting in her car, unchanged from yesterday.
“Good morning, Fuyuki-sama, Inamori-sama.”
“…Good morning. I’m sorry that you had to give me a ride.”
“Fuyuki-sama has already given us instructions, so there is no problem.”
We got into the same car as yesterday and set off for school.
The car driven by Hino-san was very comfortable and gave me a sense of security.
While we were moving, Tojo-san was in a great mood, shaking her head from side to side.
She looked so cute that I couldn’t help but raise the corners of my mouth.
“Oh, by the way! Asahi, I heard that Haruyuki-kun has a part-time work shift at a convenience store today, so could you arrange to drop him off and pick him up from there?”
“Ha!?”
I was taken aback by Tojo-san’s sudden offer.
“I understand. I’ll arrange it after school.”
“Wait, please!”
It may not be a good way to put it, but I don’t need such a thing.
I’m not in a position to need an escort like Tojo-san, and I’m not a celebrity.
“With all due respect, Inamori-sama. You are already an important person to Fuyuki-sama. If, by any chance, should Inamori-sama be in any danger―”
“Asahi, let’s not go any further.”
Tojo-san, who interrupted Hino-san’s words, turned her gaze to me as if she had realised something.
“I know that you do not want to receive special treatment. I’m not sure if it’s because I grew to be a bit overprotective or because I tend to treat those around me that way… I’m sorry.”
“It’s not something that Tojo-san and the others need to worry about…”
“As for transportation to and from school, let’s only do that when Haruyuki-kun himself needs it. However, I’m still worried about him, so can I ask you to register Asahi’s contact information just in case?”
If that’s the case, there’s no problem at all.
In short, I’m not comfortable with a person like me being treated the same way as Tojo-san, and I’m afraid that I’m going to feel as if I’ve become a great person.
“When it comes to… contact information, I just register her phone number?”
“No, it’s not worth the hassle of making a phone call, so I’ll just put in an app.”
“An app?”
“Can I borrow your device for a moment?”
I do as I’m told and hand over my phone.
She then pulled out some cable from her bag and plugged it into the phone.
“This goes here… Ok, now it’s fine. I’ll give this back to you.”
“What did you put in there?”
“It’s an emergency call app that’s supposed to contact Asahi directly.”
—Some crazy stuff you’ve got there.
“Launch the app and press the red button in the centre of the screen, and you will hear Asahi’s usual voice. If you can speak, just say what you need, else, the GPS will automatically activate, and Asahi will rush to the scene.”
“Now you don’t have to worry about being kidnapped!”
In front of Tojo-san, who said that with a smile, I felt the difference in our worlds more and more.
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It was early morning. I woke to an appetising aroma.
When I sat up, I didn’t see Tojo-san near me. I could hear noises from the kitchen, so she was probably there.
“Ah, good morning, Haruyuki-kun.”
“… Good morning.”
Tojo-san, who had already changed into the school uniform, was wearing an apron over it and holding a ladle.
She was apparently preparing breakfast for us.
“It will be ready in a few minutes, so please get ready for school and wait for me.”
“Aah. Okay.”
I changed into my school uniform in the room I was lent and went back to the living room with my school bag full of textbooks.
It was the first time I’ve ever felt this refreshed on a school-day morning.
The chronic tiredness that I had was gone, and I felt like I could move with enthusiasm towards anything.
“Haruyuki, are you fine with natto?”
“I don’t have any particular aversion to it.”
“I understand. Then I’ll add it, okay?”
Tojo-san brought me a tray with breakfast carefully laid out and placed it in front of me.
Miso soup, grilled salmon, freshly cooked white rice and the natto that she had just mentioned.
It was the ideal breakfast.
“You’re a great cook, Tojo-san.”
“Food is an important source of nutrients for your body. I’ve practised a lot.”
We clapped our hands together as we had done last night and began to eat.
The skin of the grilled salmon was crispy, and its moderate saltiness made the white rice tastier.
The miso soup was the same one as last night, but I felt like no matter how many times I drank it, I would never feel tired of it.
“It really is extravagant being able to have a breakfast like this in the morning…”
“I’m glad to hear you say that, but I didn’t do anything that special. Rather, what kind of breakfast did you have before?”
“I didn’t eat breakfast.”
“Eh?”
“I wanted to sleep more instead of using my time to make and eat breakfast, so I didn’t have any at all.”
I had been trying to spend as little money as possible on food, and breakfast was the only thing that I decided I could cut back on.
So it has been more than a year since I have had breakfast like this.
“… I’ll make it every day.”
“Eh?”
“I’ll make it. Everyday.”
She looked at me straight and earnestly, and I stiffened involuntarily.
But once I realised that she was thinking of me, I instantly felt warmth flood my heart.
“If Tojo-san makes it for me, I’ll eat it all. But if you’re going to do the impossible—”
“The impossible…? You underestimate me. I’m not sure how much elaborate cooking I’ll have to do, but if it’s for Haruyuki-kun, I don’t mind.”
—Isn’t that pushing it in a way?
Many parts of me thought that. But when I saw her expression, which really didn’t look like a heck of a lot, I was drained of my worries.
“I’m happy that you care about me like this. Haruyuki-kun, you may feel that only you are given something, but from my point of view, I have already received a lot of things, you know?”
◇◆◇
“—Well. We’d better leave soon.”
“Ah, is it that time already?”
I checked the time on my outdated smartphone, and it said 7:30. Our school started at 8:20.
If we head there now, we’ll arrive with plenty of time.
We cleaned up the last dishes left and grabbed our school bags.
In my bag was a lunch box that Tojo-san made for me, and considering the quality of yesterday’s lunch, I was really looking forward to lunchtime.
“Asahi is waiting for us downstairs, so let’s head down to the parking lot.”
“… I know this is late, but can I get a ride too?”
“Of course. I won’t just let you take the train to school by yourself.”
—Since it would be strange to refrain from doing this, I’ll be counting on you.
I walked down to the parking lot and found Hino-san waiting in her car, unchanged from yesterday.
“Good morning, Fuyuki-sama, Inamori-sama.”
“…Good morning. I’m sorry that you had to give me a ride.”
“Fuyuki-sama has already given us instructions, so there is no problem.”
We got into the same car as yesterday and set off for school.
The car driven by Hino-san was very comfortable and gave me a sense of security.
While we were moving, Tojo-san was in a great mood, shaking her head from side to side.
She looked so cute that I couldn’t help but raise the corners of my mouth.
“Oh, by the way! Asahi, I heard that Haruyuki-kun has a part-time work shift at a convenience store today, so could you arrange to drop him off and pick him up from there?”
“Ha!?”
I was taken aback by Tojo-san’s sudden offer.
“I understand. I’ll arrange it after school.”
“Wait, please!”
It may not be a good way to put it, but I don’t need such a thing.
I’m not in a position to need an escort like Tojo-san, and I’m not a celebrity.
“With all due respect, Inamori-sama. You are already an important person to Fuyuki-sama. If, by any chance, should Inamori-sama be in any danger―”
“Asahi, let’s not go any further.”
Tojo-san, who interrupted Hino-san’s words, turned her gaze to me as if she had realised something.
“I know that you do not want to receive special treatment. I’m not sure if it’s because I grew to be a bit overprotective or because I tend to treat those around me that way… I’m sorry.”
“It’s not something that Tojo-san and the others need to worry about…”
“As for transportation to and from school, let’s only do that when Haruyuki-kun himself needs it. However, I’m still worried about him, so can I ask you to register Asahi’s contact information just in case?”
If that’s the case, there’s no problem at all.
In short, I’m not comfortable with a person like me being treated the same way as Tojo-san, and I’m afraid that I’m going to feel as if I’ve become a great person.
“When it comes to… contact information, I just register her phone number?”
“No, it’s not worth the hassle of making a phone call, so I’ll just put in an app.”
“An app?”
“Can I borrow your device for a moment?”
I do as I’m told and hand over my phone.
She then pulled out some cable from her bag and plugged it into the phone.
“This goes here… Ok, now it’s fine. I’ll give this back to you.”
“What did you put in there?”
“It’s an emergency call app that’s supposed to contact Asahi directly.”
—Some crazy stuff you’ve got there.
“Launch the app and press the red button in the centre of the screen, and you will hear Asahi’s usual voice. If you can speak, just say what you need, else, the GPS will automatically activate, and Asahi will rush to the scene.”
“Now you don’t have to worry about being kidnapped!”
In front of Tojo-san, who said that with a smile, I felt the difference in our worlds more and more.
It was early morning. I woke to an appetising aroma.When I sat up, I didn't see Tojo-san near me. I could hear noises from the kitchen, so she was probably there.Ah, good morning, Haruyuki-kun. Good morning.Tojo-san, who had already changed into the school uniform, was wearing an apron over it and holding a ladle.She was apparently preparing breakfast for us.It will be ready in a few minutes, so please get ready for school and wait for me.Aah. Okay.I changed into my school uniform in the room I was lent and went back to the living room with my school bag full of textbooks.It was the first time I've ever felt this refreshed on a school-day morning.The chronic tiredness that I had was gone, and I felt like I could move with enthusiasm towards anything.Haruyuki, are you fine with natto?I don't have any particular aversion to it.I understand. Then I'll add it, okay?Tojo-san brought me a tray with breakfast carefully laid out and placed it in front of me.Miso soup, grilled salmon, freshly cooked white rice and the natto that she had just mentioned.It was the ideal breakfast.You're a great cook, Tojo-san.Food is an important source of nutrients for your body. I've practised a lot.We clapped our hands together as we had done last night and began to eat.The skin of the grilled salmon was crispy, and its moderate saltiness made the white rice tastier.The miso soup was the same one as last night, but I felt like no matter how many times I drank it, I would never feel tired of it.It really is extravagant being able to have a breakfast like this in the morningI'm glad to hear you say that, but I didn't do anything that special. Rather, what kind of breakfast did you have before?I didn't eat breakfast.Eh?I wanted to sleep more instead of using my time to make and eat breakfast, so I didn't have any at all.I had been trying to spend as little money as possible on food, and breakfast was the only thing that I decided I could cut back on.So it has been more than a year since I have had breakfast like this. I'll make it every day.Eh?I'll make it. Everyday.She looked at me straight and earnestly, and I stiffened involuntarily.But once I realised that she was thinking of me, I instantly felt warmth flood my heart.If Tojo-san makes it for me, I'll eat it all. But if you're going to do the impossibleThe impossible? You underestimate me. I'm not sure how much elaborate cooking I'll have to do, but if it's for Haruyuki-kun, I don't mind.Isn't that pushing it in a way?Many parts of me thought that. But when I saw her expression, which really didn't look like a heck of a lot, I was drained of my worries.I'm happy that you care about me like this. Haruyuki-kun, you may feel that only you are given something, but from my point of view, I have already received a lot of things, you know?Well. We'd better leave soon.Ah, is it that time already?I checked the time on my outdated smartphone, and it said 7:30. Our school started at 8:20.If we head there now, we'll arrive with plenty of time.We cleaned up the last dishes left and grabbed our school bags.In my bag was a lunch box that Tojo-san made for me, and considering the quality of yesterday's lunch, I was really looking forward to lunchtime.Asahi is waiting for us downstairs, so let's head down to the parking lot. I know this is late, but can I get a ride too?Of course. I won't just let you take the train to school by yourself.Since it would be strange to refrain from doing this, I'll be counting on you.I walked down to the parking lot and found Hino-san waiting in her car, unchanged from yesterday.Good morning, Fuyuki-sama, Inamori-sama.Good morning. I'm sorry that you had to give me a ride.Fuyuki-sama has already given us instructions, so there is no problem.We got into the same car as yesterday and set off for school.The car driven by Hino-san was very comfortable and gave me a sense of security.While we were moving, Tojo-san was in a great mood, shaking her head from side to side.She looked so cute that I couldn't help but raise the corners of my mouth.Oh, by the way! Asahi, I heard that Haruyuki-kun has a part-time work shift at a convenience store today, so could you arrange to drop him off and pick him up from there?Ha!?I was taken aback by Tojo-san's sudden offer.I understand. I'll arrange it after school.Wait, please!It may not be a good way to put it, but I don't need such a thing.I'm not in a position to need an escort like Tojo-san, and I'm not a celebrity.With all due respect, Inamori-sama. You are already an important person to Fuyuki-sama. If, by any chance, should Inamori-sama be in any dangerAsahi, let's not go any further.Tojo-san, who interrupted Hino-san's words, turned her gaze to me as if she had realised something.I know that you do not want to receive special treatment. I'm not sure if it's because I grew to be a bit overprotective or because I tend to treat those around me that way I'm sorry.It's not something that Tojo-san and the others need to worry aboutAs for transportation to and from school, let's only do that when Haruyuki-kun himself needs it. However, I'm still worried about him, so can I ask you to register Asahi's contact information just in case?If that's the case, there's no problem at all.In short, I'm not comfortable with a person like me being treated the same way as Tojo-san, and I'm afraid that I'm going to feel as if I've become a great person.When it comes to contact information, I just register her phone number?No, it's not worth the hassle of making a phone call, so I'll just put in an app.An app?Can I borrow your device for a moment?I do as I'm told and hand over my phone.She then pulled out some cable from her bag and plugged it into the phone.This goes here Ok, now it's fine. I'll give this back to you.What did you put in there?It's an emergency call app that's supposed to contact Asahi directly.Some crazy stuff you've got there.Launch the app and press the red button in the centre of the screen, and you will hear Asahi's usual voice. If you can speak, just say what you need, else, the GPS will automatically activate, and Asahi will rush to the scene.Now you don't have to worry about being kidnapped!In front of Tojo-san, who said that with a smile, I felt the difference in our worlds more and more.
